SOME RARE ANTARCTIC BOOKS
This section is intended to focus on various rarities of Antarcticana including expedition publications such as the Aurora Australis and the South Polar Times.
Launched: 8 July 2007. Last updated: 16 December 2007.
Accessed at least
times
since 9 July 2007.
COMING SOON:
• descriptions including contents, circumstances of publication, etc.
• bibliographic descriptions
• auction prices
• conundrums, et al
When I was at Scott Polar Research Institute (SPRI) in November I transcribed its copy of The Blizzard, a kind of low-end South Polar Times. To my knowledge this is the first time it's been transcribed, or, at least, the first time it's been made available on-line for those who wish to read it.
The Blizzard
I've been working on some of the information I collected years ago on the Aurora Australis and hope to have a section here on that in the next month or so.
Title page of the Tom Eames copy of the Aurora Australis which sold at Bonhams in London on 26 June 2007 for £43,200 (including the 20% buyer's premium).
Photo from Bonhams website.
I'm also working up some informaton on the South Polar Times:
The three published volumes of the South Polar Times which sold at Swann Galleries on 24 May 2007 (Levinson Sale) for $20,000 (excluding the 20% buyer's premium).
Photo from Swann's website.
I'll be adding information as well on other expedition publications including The Adelie Mail and the The Barrier Bull to name just two.
—R. Stephenson
(16 December 2007)